AppleInsider did some digging and reports that multiple suppliers, including Best Buy and Target, have almost no stock of iPod nanos in the stores and warehouses. Those that had received advance notice of the shortage were allegedly told that deliveries would resume on September 6. Of course, anyone with access to a calendar (or, better yet, a brain) knows that September 6 is the day after the Apple event scheduled on September 5, so the delay indicates that Apple is either introducing new models or just jerking around suppliers for giggles.

The only real rumor that has surfaced about the expected nano redesign is that it will be shorter, wider, and in slightly different colors. The mock-up (pictured to the right) created by 9to5mac best describes what people seem to be expecting: a shrunken down version of the fullsize iPod. Many have reacted poorly to the suggestion that this would be the new design, however.

We can only hope that the nano line will also get a bump in storage in addition to its color and design changes, as it currently sits at 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB models. I mentioned earlier this week that I have an 8GB nano, but it still hurts me every time my Mac says it can't transfer my songs because the darn thing is full. Just a couple more gigs, Apple! Just a couple more...

Jacqui Cheng
Jacqui is an Editor at Large at Ars Technica, where she has spent the last eight years writing about Apple culture, gadgets, social networking, privacy, and more. Emailjacqui@arstechnica.com//Twitter@eJacqui